Glory Cheated Out Of A-League Soccer Title

Upon reading the above headline it would sound as if the team in question were simply bitter and being poor sports.

You’d be wrong.

The Perth Glory are publically smashing the 95th minute decision made by referee Jarred Gillett, a call that cost them an A-League championship.

With the game tied at one goal apiece and already in the dying seconds of stoppage time, Gillett awarded Brisbane Roar striker Besart Berisha a penalty shot when the player simply tripped over his own feet.

The Glory gave up a late goal after having been a position to win the entire game and lost it when Berisha beat the defense to face the keeper one on one, but he drew only air on his shot attempt.

Gillett awarded the striker a spot shot and he made no mistake, giving Brisbane their second consecutive A-League title.

Gillett’s call, one the most controversial decision’s in contemporary Australian sporting history, has left a bitter taste in mouths of the Glory players. Captain Jacob Burns told Fox Sports after the game that he believed the decision was a “knee-jerk” reaction.

"I feel like we were robbed, without a doubt," Burns said.

"The decision cost us the grand final. It was suspect and a knee-jerk reaction. Those sort of decisions cost you cups. It killed us and a wonderful game."

Amazingly Gillett is the reigning official of the year.

It wasn’t the only embarrassing moment of the final.

An “administrative error” caused Thomas Broich to be awarded with the Joe Marston Medal for the best player of the title game when it was meant to be given to Burns.